Say cheese!
When the Bulls travel to Madison, Wis. this weekend it will be the third time this season they face a nationally ranked opponent. After contests against the Auburn Tigers and Boston College Eagles, head coach Turner Gill expects his team to be accustomed to the spotlight.
"We have the experience of playing in a bigger venue," Gill said. "We're not going to be in awe. The football is all the same."
The two teams are at different ends of the college football spectrum. Wisconsin has reached the pinnacle of the sport while the Bulls are still trying to get their foot in the door to big time football.
The 10th-ranked Badgers come into Saturday's game third in the Big Ten Conference behind Ohio State and Michigan, who are ranked Nos. 1 and 2 respectively. With a strong showing against the Bulls in their final game of the season they could solidify their chances at a big time bowl berth.
The Bulls will look to pull off the unlikeliest of upsets, in what is their second consecutive nationally televised game. The Bulls lost to Akron on ESPNU last week by a score of 31-16.
"Any exposure is good exposure." Gill said. "We want people to know who we are, where we are going and that we are a program on the rise."
The Badgers offer a challenge in every aspect of the game. They rank second in the Big Ten in total offense, posting 29.3 points per game while allowing only 12.7 points.
Their All-American left tackle Joe Thomas leads the team. The senior stands at an imposing 6-foot 8-inches and weighs 313 pounds. A possible top three pick in this spring's National Football League Draft, Thomas will protect the blind side of junior quarterback Tyler Donovan.
Donovan has led the Badgers in the absence of John Stocco, who is out with a shoulder injury. He has provided little drop off in production at the position, as he has a 147.2 passer rating, while Stocco has a rating of 150.31.
The running game is placed in the hands of freshman P.J. Hill who leads the Big Ten in rushing. Hill is averaging 131.5 yards per game and has scored 14 total touchdowns.
"He is probably the most physical back we have played," Gill said. "He's going to get his touches. He's going to break tackles. We just have to keep guys around the football and focus on tackling."
The Bulls enter the game allowing the most points in Mid-American Conference at 34.1 per game. The defense has been lacking captain Ramon Guzman at linebacker, and in his absence Gill has been rotating younger players into the line-backing corps and secondary.
With the entire secondary returning next season this has been an invaluable experience for the team.
"We're very young," Gill said. "The experience gives us a lot to look forward to next year and in the future."
The quarterback position is still up in the air with sophomore Drew Willy returning to practice this week. If Willy cannot compete on game day expect to see senior Tony Paoli under center against the Badgers.
"We're going to take it day-by-day," Gill said. "If we get to game day and he's healthy, Drew will be the starter."
Similar to the situation that Wisconsin finds itself in; Paoli has spelled Willy well posting a 112.06 passer rating compared to Willy's rating of 113.7.
Freshman running back James Starks looks to build on his standout season, where he has led the Bulls ground game with 657 yards and six touchdowns. Senior fullback Steven King has also begun to find the end zone, with his touchdown total reaching five last week.
Saturday's game kicks off at noon at Camp Randall Stadium and will be televised on ESPNU.
Photo: Courtesy of Matthew Messina, from the RMBERS' Instagram page
